Record-changing mechanism for disk-record sound-reproducing machines



Dec. 24, 1929. F. H. SEAL. ET AL- RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR DISK RECORD SOUND REPRODUOING MACHINES Filed May 24, 1922 7 Sheeiis-Sheet Dec. 24, 1929. F. H. SEAL El AL 1,741,040 ns conn crumeme rmcrumxsm FOR DISK RECORD scum: narnonucme MACHINES Filed May 24. 1922 7 Sheet-Sheet 2 Dec; 24, 1929. F. H. SEAL El AL 1,741,040

RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR DISK RECORD souND REPRODUCING MACHINES Filed May 24. 1922 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 muss; v lnienfors M fiww x Dec. 24, 1929. 'F. H, SEAL ET AL 1,741,040

RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR DISK RECORD SOUND REPRODUCING MACHINES Filed May 24. 1922 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 A M% 4 %fzi %faw Dec. 24, 1929. F, SEAL m AL 1,741,040

RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR DISK RECORD SOUND RIII'PRODUCINSv MACHINES Fil'ed May 24, 1922 7 Sheets-bheet 5 Fly.

WI f messes Dec. 24, 1929. F. H. SEAL ET AL RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR D ISK RECORD SOUND RSPRODUCING MACHINES Filed May 24. 1922 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 I HH W Dec. 24, 1929. F. H. SEAL. ET AL RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR DISK RECORD SOUND REPRODUCING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 m ENTORS Hank Jeal Filed May 24. 1922 Yarry HaW/h'n-F ATTORN EY Patented Dec. 24, 1929 FUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK H. SEAL AND HARRY HAWKINS, OF GREAT FALLS, MONTANA RECORD-GHANGING MECHANISM FOR DISK-RECORD SOUND-REPRODUCING MACHINES Application filed May 24, 1922. Serial No. 563,419.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved disk record transfer mechanism which will permit the operator to select any disk record in the magazine and to 5 place either side of the selected record centrally upon the turn table of a talking machine or phonograph; to return the same to its original position in the magazine, the magazine to hold the records in a radial and vertical position with respect to a horizontal turn table; and to provide a frame and mechanism onto which can be mounted the mechanism of an ordinary phonograph and with said phonograph can be used in connection with the mechanism, as will appear hereinafter; and also to provide a mechanism which will adjust itself to any size record or thickness of same; and to provide other improvements as will appear hereinafter.

With these objects in view we have invented and constructed special mechanical devices and have used certain mechanical principles which will produce the results as set forth by our claims. We attain these results by using the mechanism disclosed in the drawings accompanying these specifications, and which form a part thereof.

Reference will now be had to the drawings herein:

Fig. 1 shows a top View of the mechanism with disk record transfer carrier in a closed position and gripping the record on the turn table, and shows the other records mounted in a radial and vertical position in the magazine.

Fig. 2 shows a frontview and also shows the record transfer arm in a closed horizontal position. It also shows the position of the records in the magazine as to that of the turntable, and the position of the mechanism as applied to use with an ordinary phonograph.

Fig. 3 shows a rear view of the machine showing the record carrier in a closed position, together with the position of the records, and the cam which operates the record transfer mechanism.

Fig. 4 shows a top View of the record transfer mechanism on a larger scale, and illustrates themcchanical principle used.

Fig. 5 shows a sectional view-on line 5-5,

Fig. 4, of the record transfer arm and reversing mechanism.

Fig. 6 shows a sectional View on line 6-6, Fig. 4, of the cam and lever which controls the turning on of the record transfer arm mechanism.

Fig. 7 shows an enlarged side view of portions of the mechanism for opening and closing the record transfer arm.

Fig. 8 shows a top View of a part of the selecting mechanism.

Fig. 9 shows a sectional View on line 9-9 of Fig. 4, of the positional locking device of the record transfer arm,

Fig. 10 shows a front View with transfer arm open, and in position over the magazine,

Fig. 11 shows a sectional View on line 11-1l, Fig. 1, of cam lever and follower used to operate the opening and closing mechanism of the transfer arm,

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of frame 25, showing mechanism that moves horn and reproducer, electric switch, shaft 51, and the shaft that transmits power to operate the turntable.

Fig. 13 is a side view showing electric motor and method of mounting,

Figs. 14 and 15 are views illustrating the mechanism which moves the horn and reproducer,

Fig. 16 illustrates mechanism to rotate shaft 51,

Fig. 17 illustrates the electric switch mechamsm,

Figs. 18 and 19 illustrate mechanism used in (iransmitting power to operate turn table, an

Fig. 20 illustrates position of record in course of travel to and from turn table.

Referring to Figure 1: The main frame 25 supports the entire machine; and upon this frame is mounted upright members 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. As shown in Figure 2, the bearing 7 is provided for shaft 51, and the bearing 8 supports reproducer lifting arm 7 O, and the guides the lower partflof the selector disconnecting lever 11.

Referring to Fi 3: On the main frame 25 there is mounte a bearing 12 which carries the total weight of the shaft 14, the arm 15, a fan-shaped magazine 16, and records 13, while the guide bearing 17 prevents side movement of the rack carrier 18, which is mounted in the rack frame 19.

Referring again to Fig. 1: Upon supports 1 and 2 is mounted a cross frame 20 that supports one side of the phonograph or talking machine, and a cross frame 21 which sup- I which is mounted on lever 28, helps the lever 28 to bring the magazine rack 31, to a definite position which in turn holds magazine 16 in its proper place. Spacing bars 32 are used to space records on outside radius of magazine 16, while rack 33 is used to space records on inside radius of magazine 16.

Referring-again to Fig. 3: The magazine 16 is supported by arm 15 which is carried by shaft 14. The gear 34 mounted on shaft 36,

is rotated by a rack 35 which travels up and down on rack carrier 18, the rack carrier being actuated by cam 54 through rollers 53 which travel on cam 54. On rack frame .19 are mounted three flange rollers 56 which also act as guides to rack 18.

Referring now to Fig. 4: Shaft 36 is mounted adjacent one end in bearings 38; on this shaft is mounted gear 34 and cam 39.

- Shaft 57 is actuated by lever 40 on which is mounted roller 56, which engages the periphery of-cam 39; on shaft 57 is mounted a spring 58 which normally holds the shaft in a forward position and on'this shaft is mounted two latching levers 59 which engage flange gears 47. On shaft 36 is mounted a lever 41 which prevents the shaft 36 from turning too far in either direction by engaging stops 26 and 60. Upon this shaft 36 is slipped a coil spring 42 which bears against collar 43 which is pinned to shaft 44, and this; in turn applies a thrust to bar 44 which slides in 41 and 49, and on which is mounted roller 45 which looks flange gear 46, as seen in Fig. 9. This gear is fastened on a hollow shaft 61 which turns in bearing 62, and on shaft 36 are mounted two level gears 47, these gears being mounted one on each side of bearing 62. Shaft 36 acts as bearings for each gear 47, the gears being held in position by com bination set collars and bearings, 48 and 49.

-Fig.- 7). On shaft 61 is mounted set collar 63, and at one end of shaft 61 is fastened part of transfer arm 64, and inside of shaft 61 is mounted a small shaft 65 which transmits the pull from lever 66 to lever '67,'lever 66 being operated by shaft 68. This shaft 68 is turned by lever 69, on which is mounted a roller 101 which is actuated by cone 50.

Shaft 36 is made by turning a square bar from the ends toward the center, leaving a square block marked 62; a hole is drilled through this block at right angles to the axis of the shaft and serves as bearing for the trunnion 61 of the transfer arm 6490.

Referring again to Fig. 2: The reproducer is lifted by lever 70, said lever being operated by a cam 71 which is fastened to shaft 51, and cam 72 operates lever 11 which raises and lowers the rack bar 73 and through lever operates the shaft which carries the horn and reproducer. On this bar is'fastened a rack 74 which is moved by gear 75 which is moved by and operated by shaft 76 and'on this shaft 76 is also fastened a hand wheel 77. On bar 73 is also mounted a lug 78 and there is a pin 79 which engages lever 80. Lever 80 is fastened at one end to shaft 14 (see dotted lines Fig. 1) and lug 78 on bar 73 engages lugson bar 81 which move backward and forward on bearing block 82 and the bars 73-81 are held in place by the rollers 83.

Referring to Fig. 8: The bar 81 is provided with a laterally projecting wedge 84, which engages roller 85 carried at the end of lever 86, the other end of this lever being I fastened to shaft 87 which in turn transmits the motion to lever 88, and this in turn actuates shaft 57.

Referring to Figs. 1, 3 and 10 it will be seen that arm 64 supports a movable arm 90 having a part slidable through a bearing which is made up of parts of arm 64 and 90, the two being held together by a plate 91. The lever 67 is connected at one end to'lever 90 by a connecting rod 89, and 92 is a tension spring which connects plate 91 and arm 90. As plate 91 is bolted to arm 64, the spring 92 causes a tension between transfer arm members 64 and90, and as tension of spring 92 causes the arm. 90 to slide toward the center of the record, this will allow. notched lug 93 of' lever 67 and notched lugs 95 on arm 90 to move with equal radius to center of the record, and said lugs 93 and 95 have equal radius at all times during their travel while opening or closing of arm 64-90.

Referring to Fig. 11 it will be seen that cam 96, which is fastened to shaft 51 operates lever 97 through roller 98, the lever belever 99. which actuates yoke lever 24 (see Fig. 7), by the pin 100.

The operation of this improved mechanism is as follows: A selection of a record in the magazine is made by turning the hand wheel 77 to the extreme right or left position and the. direction in whlch the hand wheel is turned determines the side of the record that will be played. The hand wheel 77 is turned 10 back until the proper record is selected.

This is indicated by what record is under the transfer arm 64-90 which is in open position over the magazine, (Fig. 10) In turning this hand wheel to the extreme right or left position, this will cause lug or bar 74'to shift lug bar 81 in one direction or another, and this in turn causes wedge 84 (see Figs. 1 and 8) to move lever 86 which in turn moves lever 88. This lever shifts shaft 57, (see Figs. 1 and 4) which places one of the latch levers 59 under one of the flange gears 47 and a constant end thrust is maintained on shaft 57 by a compression spring 58.

Hand wheel 77, which is connected to pinion 75 by shaft 76 on being turned back moves rack 73 which moves carriage 15 through lever 80 mounted on shaft 14 as indicated in dotted lines Fig. 1; as rack 73 nears the end of its movement lug 78 moves bar 81 and cam or wedge 84 on bar 81 actuates lever 88 through lever 86; this operation shifts shaft 57. Shaft 57 has two positions, one shown in Fig. 8, and the other when bar 81 is moved to the right until cam 84 is under roller 85.

In the selection of the records of the magazine, the records are rotated, or position shifted, by the magazine being supported by shaft 14. The shaft 14 is controlled by lever 80 which is actuated by bar 73 and this bar ismoved by the turning of the hand wheel 77. After the selection is made, an electric switch (hereinafter described) is closed. This starts an electric motor which rotates shaft 51. As shaft 51 is rotated about 10 degrees the cam disengages rack 74 and gear 75 thus rendering it impossible for -the operator to make any further selection until the record has been played and returned to its original position in the magazine. When shaft 51 has rotated fifteen degrees, then cam 96 which ismounted on shaft 51, allows lever 97 to drop down and this carries 99 with it which through 23 and 24 pulls back cone collar 50, which allows lever 69 record from its position in the magazine and when the record has been lifted to a position where the turning of arms 64 and 90 with the record will clear all records in the magazine, then shaft 51 will have rotated about sixty degrees.

At this time cam 39 allows end of lever 40 to travel toward shaft 36 which is shown in Figure 6. This turns shaft 57 and allows latch arm 59, as shown in Figure 5, to dro in the notch in flange gear 47 which holds the gear and causes flange gear 46 to rotate, and also rotates the arm which holds the record. After this arm has rotated ninety degrees, cam 39 causes one 'end of lever 40 to travel away from shaft 36. This forces lever 59 to release its lock on flange gear 47 and permits the arm and record to follow the shaft 36 which is beingrotated, (see Figs. 3 and 20) until cam 54 has ceased raising rack carrier 18. The record is then in a hori zontal position on the turn table, and cam 96 engages lever 97 and opens the arm, and the reproducer has been moved into position and is lowered by lever which is controlled by cam 71.

The record is thenplayed until the reproducer reaches the end of the program on the record and shaft 51 again starts to rotate, and cam 71 engages lever 70. This lifts the reproducer from the record, and the reproducer is then moved clear of the record in order that the record may be lifted from the turn table. As shaft 51 continues to rotate, cam

- 96 engages lever 97 and closes the arm 6490 which grips the record. Cam 54 then allows the rack carrier-18 to move down and this, in turn, rotates shaft 36 which causes arm 6490 to lift the record from the turn table. As shaft 36 rotates, cam 39 allows latch lever 59 to drop in the notch on flange gear 47, holding same until arm has turned through ninety degrees. Then cam 39 forces lever 40 outward which in turn, releases latch lever 59 and the arm and the record carried thereby has moved from a plane parallel to shaft 36, to a plane at right angles to shaft 36. As 36 continues to rotate, the record carried by the arm is returned to its original position in the magazine; then cam 96 (Fig. 11) pushes the lever 97 which lifts the shaft 99 through pin 100 and causes arm 6490 to release its grip on the record and cam 72 allows lever 11 to drop down Fig. 2, which lets bar 73 down and this causes rack 74 to engage 1gear 75, see Fig. 2, and the electric switch, ig. 1 7 is now opened. The operator can then replay the same record and the same side by closing the switch, or can play the other side of any other record in the magazine by following the instructions as previously explained.

The turn table designated by reference numeral'102 is rotated by a spring in casing 104, to which is fastened a worm gear which enin Figure 18.

being mounted on worm 103, as clearly shown The shaft mechanism shown in Figs. 12 and 16, t being given about one revolution perminute,

and is connected to any suitable source of power such as electric motor through reduction gear, either by gears and belt.

Referring to Figure 12: To operate the electric switch close contact by pressing the contacts 132 and 133 together; this causes a motor 129 to start rotating a pulley 128 which drives a belt 127 shown in Figure 13, and this rotates a pulley 126 which is'fastened to shaft 106,-and' this in turn rotates a gear 107 which then drives a gear 108 fastened to shaft 105 and causes it to rotate; a worm 124 mounted on shaft 105, then causes a worm gear which is mounted on shaft 51 to rotate; the cam 130 engages a roller 131 (Figure 17) which forces the spring contact arm 134 downholding contacts 132 and 133 together; the transfer mechanism will then transfer its record from the magazine to the turn table, and cam 111 shown onFigures 12 and 15 will engage the roller 117 mounted on an arm 114 which is fastened to a shaft 110, and rotates same slightly, and lever 118 which is operated by shaft 110, moves bar 119 which. pulls a rod 120 which is fastened to the horn by a swivel connection and which causes the horn and reproducer to bemoved into a playing position on the record.

The arm 64- 90 releases its grip on the record, the turn table starts rotating; cam 130 then disengages contact with roller 131 which releases tension on spring arm 134 and opens the contacts 133 and 132 and lever 70 has lowered the horn and the reproducer to engage the record;.-this lever is controlled by a cam 71 and the reproducer travels as the record is' played from the outer part of the record toward its center; the horn and reproducer travel together and this pushes rod 120 swivelled to the horn, and this also pushes bar 119 and causes the end of the projection on bar 119 to push spring arm 141 so that contact is made between points 140 and 139 which starts motor 129 thereby causing shaft 51 to rotate and cam 130 to close contacts 132 and 133, and to cause cam 71 to engage lever 70 which lifts the horn and reproducer; then cam 112 engages roller 116 which pushes lever 113, and as this lever is fastened to shaft 110 it causes shaft 110 to rotate slightly, thereby moving lever 118, and through its sliding contact with bar 119 pushes bar 119 which in turn pushes the horn and reproducer into position whereby the record can be removed from the table. When therecord is returned to the magazine, arm

' 64 90 releases its grip and cam 130 is disengaged from roller 131, which permits con- 51 is rotated very slowly by' tacts 132 and 133 to spring apart and open the circuit.

When a record is being transferred from the magazine to the turn table or vice versa, the shaft 105 (Figure 18) rotates sprocket 124 which drives chain 146and this chain drives sprocket 147 which is fastened to shaft 148, and on this shaft is a pinion gear which drives gear 154 and this gear 154 causes shaft 157 to rotate and in so doing winds up a spring one end of which'is fastened thereto, the spring being enclosed and held in drum 155, and as tension is increased this causes gear 156 which is fastened to the drum, to rotate and apply'a force upon worm shaft 103 causing same to rotate thereby rotating the turn table.

Having fully described this invention, we claim and desireto protect by Letters Patent of the United States 1. A device of the character described, comprising a rotative turntable, a fan-shaped record receiving magazine mounted to swing in a horizontal plane and adapted to normally maintain the records in planes perpendicular to that of the turntable, means for supporting a plurality of records in said magazine in radial relation thereto, a record gripping and carrying arm bodily movable from the magazine to the turntable, means for moving the carrying arm from the magazine to the turntable and means carried by the arm for selectively engaging a record, removing it from the magazine, turning'it to a plane parallel with the plane of the turntable, and depositing it thereon for reproducing.

2. A device of the character described comprising a horizontal rotative turntable, a fanshaped record receiving magazine mounted to swing in opposite directions in a horizontal plane, means carried by said magazine for normally supporting a plurality of records in vertical planes and radially disposed with respect to the axis of the magazine,-cooperatingmeans for selectively engaging a record transferring it from the magazine, turning it to a horizontal plane, and depositing it on the horizontal rotative table, and means for auto- "matically holding said magazine in various support to, and in a horizontal position on said table, a tone arm, means for moving the same into position over'said record, means for moving the tone arm to one side of the record holder after playing, and means for removing the record from horizontal position on the table and returning the same to vertical and radial positon on said support. I

4. In a device of the character described,

the combination with a horizontal rotative turntable of a horizontally swingable magameans for removing the selected record from playing position and returning it to the magazine with its face reversed.

5. In a device of the character described, a

horizontal rotative record carrying turntable, a magazine mounted to swing in a horizontal plane, a plurality of records supported in vertical position in said magazine and adjacent said turntable, means for placing a record in horizontal position on said turntable, a tone arm, means for moving the tone arm into playing position over the record, means for moving the tone arm to one side of the record, after the playing period, and means for removing the record from horizontal position and transferring it with its face reversed to a vertical position on the aforesaid magazine.

6. In a device of the character described, a horizontal rotative record carrying table, means for holding a plurality of records in vertical and radial position adjacent said table, gripping arms adaptedto convey said records in a horizontal position on said table, a tone arm adapted to be moved across and to one side of said table, means for actuating said gripping arms to lift said records from the table and turn the same to a vertical position, and means causing said actuating means to return said records to their supports with their faces reversed.

7 A device of the character described,

comprising a horizontal rotative turnable, a

fan-shaped record receiving magazine pivotally mounted to swing in a horizontal plane adjacent said turntable, means carried by said magazine for normally supporting a plurality of recordsin vertical position and radially disposed with respect to the axis of the magazine, a sound reproducing mechanism, and means for operating the same,

means'for transferring the records from the magazine in a vertical position turning the same and depositing the records on the turntable in a horizontal position, means for causing the sound reproducer to travel over the record while in playing position, means for moving the sound reproducer away from said record, and means for reversing the record after its removal from playing position and returning the same to the magazine with their faces reversed from that which they occupied when displaced therefrom.

8. In a device of the character described, a horizontal rotative record carrying turntable, a rack mounted to swing in a horizontal plane and adapted to support a. plurality of records in a vertical and radial position adjacent to said turntable, a sectional and expansible transfer arm adapted to selectively engage a record and to transfer the same to a horizontal position on said turntable, a tone arm adapted to be moved across and to one side of said turntable, means for causing the transfer arm to remove the record from its normal position on the turntable and return same to its vertical and radial position on the rack, and means cooperatively controlling the said transfer arm and tone arm to cause the same to operate in the sequential manner, as herein set forth.

9. A device as recited in claim 8, the transfer arm being expansible and comprising arcuate sections one slidable on the other, and adapted to engage records of varying diameter and thickness.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame of a talking machine comprising a horizontally rotative turntable, and means for actuating the same mounted in one end of the same frame, a fanshaped record receiving rack mounted to 

